The history of Azaroth begins at the ending of 1999, when Alfredo Hernandez (drums) had the idea to start a melodic black metal proyect. After half a year in the process of searching for musicians in a black metal concert he meets Jose Grajales (guitar), who was also looking for a metal band to join. Later Ariel Earle (vocals) known for his performance in the Black Doom metal proyect (Asturian – 1998) who had already been participating in the last decade with Jose Grajales (guitar). Ariel fit perfectly in the proyect showing Azaroth a very brutal voice, great charisma, aggressiveness and presence on scene, a very important factor for band of so many high expectations. Later Milton Herrera joins the band (bass). Milton accepted with a lot of joy the idea of be the bass player of Azaroth, he also haves a long trayectory in the Panama metal scene and was part of very influential bands in the early 90's. In January 2003 the band decides to incorporate a female presence who is represented by Samantha Ortega (keyboards) and that's how Azaroth fulfill their line-up, a band with a innovative melodic black metal style. The shows of the band began in March 2003 on Panama's more important metal festivals. In april they were invited as one of the opening acts of Pandemia (Brutal Death Metal) from Czech Republic in the “Demonic Latinamerican Tour”. Later they were also invited to a local band festival “Metal Militia” on the province of Chiriquí, when they got back from that festival they joined many concerts in Panama City including Night of Sickness, Halloween Erotica Madness and the mega festival “Ecofest”. To complete the year, the band is invited to perform on the last Navirock which was organized on December. With this show the band completes their cycle of concerts in the year 2003. In 2004 Azaroth decides to enter the studio to record their first record and is in the month of june were the production work starts at Insomnio Studios with producer Pablo Quintero, work that finalize in august of the same year. In December Azaroth decides to unleash their first album entitled “Queen of The Black Moon”, with the independent label: Medusa Records. The album consists of 7 songs which are: “Ritual in the Medusa Lake”, “Dark Lady”, “The Cold Winds are Passing” and “Your Presence” song that is selected to promote the album in the local radio stations and arrives between many weeks the first position of the more likely songs on specialized metal music radio programs. In 2005 Azaroth begins the promotion of their debut album both national and international, achieving a lot of attention on South American, Asian and European countries. Also they begin their performances in local festivals like “Animetal”, “Brutalizer Metal Night” (Veraguas), “Ecofest”, “Rockmaniac Festival” and in September they get invited as the opening act for Ancestral (Melodic Black Metal) from Nicaragua, band that had his first concert in Panama on the “Storm Fest” festival. In October Azaroth is included in the compilation album of “Metal Hordes II” with the song “Ritual in the Medusa Lake”, with other international bands such as: Hellchasm (Black Metal – Egypt), Portrait of Pain (Death Metal – Finland), Gorath (Black Metal – Belgium), Neomortem (Death/Black – USA), Winter of Vehemence (Dark Metal –Uk), Will of the Ancients (Black Metal – Canada), among others. The album was distributed internationally with Mikill Productions. After all of this Azaroth is nominated in the category of Best Heavy Rock band in the 4rth delivery of the PanamaRock awards in the year 2005. They are also invited to participate on the 6th edition of the international festival “Craneo Metal” in Costa Rica and Nicaragua were they play with very important bands such as: Hirax (USA), Social Shit (Argentina), Agonizer (Cuba), Gorepoflesh (Nicaragua), December's Cold Winter (Costa Rica), among others. At the end of 2005 Samantha quits the band to make their own personal proyects. In 2006 the band performs in the Nightwish tribute with other national bands. Later the band performed in the mega festival with the Melodic Death Metal band Dreamlore from El Salvador in the “Negative Specter” tour. In october Medusa Productions organizes the Dimmu Borgir tribute. Azaroth was the band who made the tribute sharing scenario with 5 national bands and with Mortigor (Black Metal) from Costa Rica. In december the band is for second time nominated in the category of Best Heavy Rock band in the PanamaRock awards. In april 2007 the band enters Insomnio Studios once again to record the single “Eternal Prophecies” as a preview of their new album, promoting this song local and in some latinoamerican radio stations. Then the band represents Panama in the international festival “Baphomet Fest” in San Jose, Costa Rica. Belial Horde, Fornost, Alastor S.E. and Mortigor were the bands invited to share the scenario with Azaroth which was the stellar band of the second edition of this festival. In October the band participates in the first delivery of the “Armageddon Metal Fest” in the city of Panama, with national bands and the stellar band Belial Horde (Black Metal) from Costa Rica. In March 2008 Azaroth decides to make some changes in their original line-up searching for a heavier and darker sound for their second record release. Jose Grajales (guitar) leaves the band and Hoptan Birmingham joins as the new guitar player of Azaroth, which is now working among with the band in the creation of the new material.

Source : http://www.myspace.com/azarothpanama